Kabwe, Zambia

Kabwe city, located in Zambia, has serious ecological problems. The city was founded about a century ago. At present, about 220 thousand people live on the city terrarium. In the beginning of the 20th century, the large zinc deposits were discovered in central Zambia. The development of industry has contributed to the formation of the new large city. The extraction of lead and zinc has been stopped in local mines more than 20 years ago. However, the results of soiling of the soil and the air with the heavy metals are still detectable up to now.

Originally the conditions for agriculture were extremely difficult in this desert area. Today, the soil in Kabwe is absolutely barren. Even when looking closely, there is no trace of grass growing on the ground on the desert hills. The ecologists believe that there will be no vegetation in the city for many centuries. The desert hills surrounding the Kabwe alternate with the large rubbish heaps, which recall the industrial past.

On the hills covered with cadmium and lead the children play for which the old landfill is one of the most interesting places. The latest medical research carried out by one of the international organizations has shown that the level of metal content in the blood of the local children transcends the norm ten times. The health of the locals was irreparable. Now modern medicine does not yet know how to correct such serious disturbances at the genetic level. Next - Chernobyl